Receiver for card ejecting and stacking mechanism



March 10, 1953 E. A. BARBER, JR 2,631,039

RECEIVER FOR CARD EJECTING AND STACKING MECHANISM 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed May 28. 1949 Zmoentor EDMUND A. BARBER, JR. ad m Gttorneg March 10, 1953 E. A. BARBER, JR 2,631,039

RECEIVER FOR CARD EJECTING AND STACKING MECHANISM Filed May 28. 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET- 2 54 2 27 LA .A -*WE 4 i I, I\\ E A P P 17 w 53 5'2 /1 m 4 I6. 5- 6O 3m entor 4 EDMUND A. BARBER, JR. '4

T q Rus xci luk 37 3 6 3] I I Gttorneg Patented Mar. 10, 1953 RECEIVER FOR CARD EJECTING AND STACKING MECHANISM Edmund A. Barber, (in, Johnson City, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 28, 1949, Serial No. 95,936

iClaims. (Cl. 271-86) This invention relates to card stacking mechanisms and, more particularly, to mechanisms for stacking cards as they are ejected from a card handling machine.

In machines which record data upon cards by punching holes therein, the cards are fed one at a time from the bottom of a stack to a carriage which advances them step-by-step to position columns on the cards successively under punch pins. After the last column on a card has been presented to the punch pins, the card is automatically removed from the machine and de osited in a stacker.

The mechanism for removing the card usually comprises fingers which gri the edge of the card and flip it over into a. receptacle. If nothing more than this is provided, it will be appreciated that the cards will be stacked in the receptacle in reverse order from that in which they were stacked at the feeding end of the machine. The first card discharged from the machine will be at the bottom of the stack but will face in the opposite direction. When this stack is turned over so that the cards are in the proper positions for feeding through a machine in which perforations are sensed, the first card punched is then at the top of the stack. Sometimes it is desirable that the punched cards be stacked in the reverse order, and at other times it is desired that they be stacked in the same order. To obtain a stacking in the same order, it has been the practice to flip each of the punched cards over twice as it is discharged f rom the machine.

An improved mechanism for receiving cards from a punching machine and stacking them in an order which is either the same as, or the rcverse of, that in which they are stacked when fed to the machine, may comprise an adjustable receptacle arranged in a position for receiving cards to be ejected edgewise from the machine. By making the receptacle adjustable so that each of the cards received is supported with its trailing edge in a plane either above or below that in which the card lies when discharged, the different orders of stacking may be obtained. If the trailing edge is above the plane of discharge, the next card is moved to a position beneath the one in the receptacle and the stacking obtained is the reverse of that at the feeding end. When the trailing edged rops below the plane of discharge, the next card is positioned on top of the one in the receptacle and the cards are stacked in an order which is the same as that at the feeding end.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism for receiving and stacking cards from a card handling machine.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for receiving cards from a card handling machine and stacking them in a receptacle in'an order which is either the same as, or the reverse of, the order in which they are stacked atthe feeding end of the machine. Still another object is to provide an improved mechanism for receiving cards ejected edgewise from a machine. i Yet another object is to provide an improved stacker which is adjustable for supporting cards supplied thereto in positions with their trailing edges either above or below a plane in which the cards lie when delivered to the stacker. V

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which isclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a card punching machine having the improved card receiving and stacking mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the card receiving and stacking mechanism taken on the .plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. 1 Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on th plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 .is an enlarged detail view of thecaifd discharge mechanism engaging a card. Fig. 5 is a view like that of .Fig. 13 butshowing the mechanism arranged for a different order of stacking. 1'

The improved card stacking mechanismis shown in Fig. 1 associated with a card punching machine which is like that disclosed in a patent application of G. V. A. Malmros et a1., Serial No. 95,934, iiled May 28, 1949. This machine in}- cludes, in general, a picker vl which is operable to feed cards singly to the left from the bottom of a card sack in a feed hopper 2. Thecards are picked up by a carriage (not shown), and advanced step-by-step under punches (not shown}, which are actuated by a motord under the control of interposers 5 positioned by magnets B. The picker and the carriage are operatively connected to a gear 8 which is driven by a motor I!) under the control of a clutch mechanism H. After the last column on a card is positioned under the punches, an ejecting mechanism, generally desig' ,nated i2, is operated to engage the card and deliver it to a stacker M. o

The ejecting mechanism l2 comprises a pair of feed rolls 16 arranged in such a position that the card I! extends between them when iii-it's last column position, and a pair of feed rolls 1a arranged to receive the card from the feed rolls l3 and deliver it to the stacker M. The lower feed roll I6 is fixed to a shaft l9 which is journaled in side plates 22 and 23 attached, as by screws 24, to the left-hand end of the punching machine, and the upper feed roll I8 is loosely mounted upon a shaft 26 which is journaled in these same plates. The upper feed roll [6 is rotatably supported by an arm 21 which is fixed to the shaft 26, and the lower feed roll I8 is fixed to a shaft 28 which is rotatably upported by arms 39 fixed to a shaft 3i journaled in the side plates 22 and 23. A spring 33 (Figs. 3 and is connected at its ends to one of the arms 3m and to a stationary abutment for holding the lower feed roll I8 in yielding engagement with the upper feed roll. An arm 35 is fixed to one end of the shaft 26 and is connected by a pin and slot connection 36 to the plunger 31 of a solenoid 38. A spring 48 (Fig. 2) acts between the arm 35 and the plate 22 for holding the haft 26 normally in such a position that the upper feed roll I6 is out of engagement with the lower feed roll, as shown in Fig. 3. When the solenoid 38 is energized, the shaft 26 is rocked in a clockwise direction to engage the upper feed roll 16 with the card for forcing it against the lower feed roll.

The lower feed rolls l6 and I8 are driven from a gear 42 loosely mounted upon the shaft 3i and meshing with gears 43 and 44 fixed to the shafts l9 and 28, respectively. The gear 42 is driven continuously by the motor 4 through a belt 435 and a pulley 41 which is fixed to a shaft is carrying a gear 49 meshing with the gear 42.

As the card I! is advanced through the machine, it is guided at its forward edge by a front card stop 52 which is pivotally supported at 53 by a transverse member 54 attached to the card carriage. In order to raise the front card stop 52 so that the card may be advanced by the feed rolls, there is provided an arm 56 attached to the shaft 26 and having a flange portion 51 which is engageable with the card stop when the shaft is rotated in a, clockwise direction. The parts are so arranged that the stop 52 is first rocked to its raised position by the arm 56, as shown in Fig. 4, and then the upper feed roll 16 is moved against the card to force it against the lower roll which is driven in a counterclockwise direction. The card is fed by the rolls l6 tothe rolls 18 which advance it to the stacker i4 attached by any suitable means to the side plates 22 and 23.

The stacker M has a bottom 60, vertical side walls GI and 62 at its front and rear, and a, vertical wall 63 at its right-hand end. A frame consisting of plates 65 and 66 connected together at one end and extending at right angles to each other fits loosely between the walls SI and 62. The free end of the plate 65 is adapted to rest upon the top of the wall 63, as shown in Fig. 3,

'while the connected ends of the plates 65 and '56 rest upon the bottom 60. The plate 65 has a hooked portion 68 at its free end cooperating with the wall 63 for holding the frame against movement to the left along the bottom 60. The arrangement is such that the cards ejected from the feed rolls [8 rest upon the plate 65 in an inclined position with their trailing edges extending above the hooked portion 68 and the plane in which the cards are discharged. Formed in the plate 65 at spaced points are openings within which rollers H are supported, and plate portions 13 at the right-hand side of the openings are bent upwardly so that the advancing edge of each card is directed to the top of the rollers and is held by the latter out of surface engagement with the plate 65.

With the card rack arranged in the stacker in the position shown in Fig. 3, each card discharged from the machine is moved to a position beneath the other cards in the rack, and the cards are stacked in an order which is the reverse of the stacking at the feeding end of the machine. The velocity imparted to the cards by the rollers 18 is suflicient to carry them the distance required for orderly stacking in the rack. In order that the operator may have convenient access to the rack and cards in the stacker, and also observe the stacking of the cards, the front wall 61 and the bottom fill are cut away at 15.

If it is desired that the cards be stacked in the same order as at the receiving end, the card rack is arranged in the position shown in Fig. 5 so that each card is ejected from the feed rolls H) to the top of the card stack.

Although the ejecting and stacking mechanism has been shown associated with a card punching machine, it will be appreciated that it may be employed as well with any machine through which cards are fed one at a time.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the apparatus illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A hopper for receiving cards discharged edgewise from a card handling machine comprising, in combination, a receptacle having a bottom, front and rear side walls, and an end wall adjacent said machine, and a frame having plates fixed together at one end and extending at right angles to each other, said frame being receivable in said receptacle with the connected ends of saidplates resting upon said bottom while the other end of one of said plates is supported either on the top of said end wall so that the cards are held in an inclined position with their trailing edges above the plane of card discharge or on said bottom so that the cards are held in a horizontal position with their trailing edges below the plane of card discharge.

2. A stacker for receiving cards discharged edgewise from a card handling machine comprising, in combination, a receptacle, and adjustable rack receivable in said receptacle, and means for adjusting said rack so as to support said cards in positions with their trailing edges either above or below the plane in which the cards are discharged from said card handling machine whereby each card is accordingly positioned below or above the card discharged ahead of it.

3. A stacker for receiving cards discharged edgewise from a card handling machine comprising in combination, a receptacle having a bottom and a plurality of walls projecting upwardly therefrom, one of said walls being adjacent said machine and having its upper edge lying below the plane of card discharge, and a frame receivable in said receptacle with one end engaging the bottom of said receptacle while its other end is supported either on the top of said wall adjacent said machine so that the cards are held in an inclined position with their trailing edges above the plane the plane of card discharge, a frame having plates 1 fixed together at one end and extending at right angles to each other, said frame being receivable in said receptacle with the connected ends of said plates resting upon said bottom while the other end of one of said plates is supported either on the top of said wall adjacent said machine so that the cards are held in an inclined position with their trailing edges above the plane of card discharge 01' on said bottom so that the cards are held in a position with their trailing edges below the plane of card discharge, rollers supported by one of the plates of said frame for holding cards discharged thereto out of surface contact with the plate, and an upwardly projecting plate-portion at the machine side of each roller for directing the advancing edge of each card to the top of said roller.

EDMUND A. BARBER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,281,359 Harrold Oct. 15, 1918 1,449,750 Hampshire et al. Mar. 2'7, 1923 1,657,595 Swift Jan. 31, 1928 1,962,050 Beidler June 5, 1934 2,036,409 Gollnick et al Apr. 7, 1936 2,181,995 Keil Dec. 5, 1939 2,359,852 Morse Oct. 10, 1944 2,427,223 Moore Sept. 29, 1947 2,461,418 Ford Feb. 8, 1949 2,549,965 Fitzgerald Apr. 24, 1951 

